Via Santa Margherita 1, ☎ +39 055 219 416,
info@museocasadidante.it
Full price €4, reduced price €2.
1
October-31 March: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; 1 April-30 September Mon-Sun
10am-6pm
Dante’s House, known as the Casa di Dante or Museo Casa di Dante, is a historic site and museum in Florence, Italy, located at Via Santa Margherita 1, in the heart of the city’s medieval quarter. While not the actual residence of Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), the renowned poet and author of The Divine Comedy, the site is closely associated with his life and legacy, situated in the area where the Alighieri family lived. The museum, housed in a reconstructed medieval building, serves as a cultural and educational hub dedicated to Dante’s life, works, and the historical context of 13th- and 14th-century Florence.
Dante Alighieri was born in Florence in 1265, in the parish of San
Martino del Vescovo, near the current site of the Casa di Dante. The
Alighieri family, part of the city’s Guelph faction, owned properties in
this area, which was a dense medieval neighborhood of tower-houses and
narrow streets. Historical records confirm Dante’s connection to this
zone, with documents like his 1302 exile decree and a 1332 arbitration
mentioning properties owned by his family near the church of San
Martino. However, the exact location of Dante’s birthplace is debated,
as medieval Florence’s urban fabric was altered by later developments,
including 19th-century urban renewals.
Origins of the Site: The
area around Via Santa Margherita was home to the Alighieri and their
allies, including the Portinari family (Beatrice Portinari, Dante’s
muse, lived nearby). The Ghibelline Donati family, whose tower partially
survives, also resided here, reflecting the neighborhood’s political and
social complexity. The current Casa di Dante stands on land historically
linked to the Alighieri, though the original buildings were likely
destroyed or modified over time.
Reconstruction and Museum: By the
19th century, Florence sought to honor Dante, who had been exiled in
1302 and died in Ravenna in 1321. In 1865, marking the 600th anniversary
of Dante’s birth, the city identified this site for commemoration. The
house was reconstructed between 1909 and 1911 by architect Giuseppe
Castellucci, who aimed to evoke a medieval Florentine tower-house. The
project unified adjacent properties, including a former theater, to
create a cohesive structure. The Società Dantesca Italiana, founded in
1888, and the Municipality of Florence established the museum in 1965,
with renovations in 1994 and 2012 enhancing its exhibits.
The Casa di Dante is designed to resemble a 13th-century Florentine
tower-house, a common residence for wealthy families during Dante’s
time. While not an original structure, its architecture draws on
medieval models, such as the nearby Torre della Castagna or surviving
Donati tower, to recreate the ambiance of Dante’s era.
Exterior:
The building is a three-story stone structure with a sober, fortified
appearance typical of medieval Florence. The facade features rusticated
stone (bugnato) on the ground floor, with smoother stone above, and
small, arched windows that evoke defensive architecture. A plaque and
Dante’s bust adorn the exterior, signaling its commemorative purpose.
The corner location at Via Santa Margherita and Via Dante Alighieri
integrates it into the medieval streetscape, with the adjacent church of
Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi (where Dante reportedly married Gemma
Donati) enhancing its historical context.
Interior Layout: The museum
spans three floors, each dedicated to a thematic aspect of Dante’s life
and times, designed to immerse visitors in medieval Florence:
Ground
Floor: Focuses on Dante’s early life, Florence’s political factions
(Guelphs and Ghibellines), and his involvement in the city’s governance.
Exhibits include replicas of medieval weapons, guild artifacts, and a
model of Florence’s battistero (Baptistery), where Dante was baptized.
First Floor: Explores Dante’s exile, his literary works, and The Divine
Comedy. Displays feature manuscripts, early editions of Dante’s texts,
and interactive panels explaining the poem’s structure (Inferno,
Purgatorio, Paradiso). A replica of Dante’s study and personal items,
like writing tools, evoke his creative process.
Second Floor:
Contextualizes 13th- and 14th-century Florence, with sections on the
city’s guilds, economy, and daily life. Multimedia installations,
including videos and maps, depict Florence’s medieval urban layout,
highlighting landmarks like the Bargello and Ponte Vecchio.
Restoration Details: The 1911 reconstruction incorporated medieval
stonework and arches, though much is decorative rather than authentic.
The 1994 and 2012 renovations modernized the interior with digital
exhibits and improved accessibility, while preserving the medieval
aesthetic. The museum’s small courtyard, visible from upper floors, adds
to the sense of a fortified residence.
The Casa di Dante is a cultural landmark that bridges Dante’s legacy
with Florence’s medieval past, serving as both a shrine to the poet and
an educational resource.
Dante’s Legacy: Dante Alighieri is
Italy’s national poet, and The Divine Comedy is a cornerstone of Western
literature, shaping the Italian language and exploring universal themes
of morality, redemption, and human nature. The museum highlights Dante’s
role as a poet, philosopher, and political figure, emphasizing his exile
after the Black Guelphs’ rise in 1302, which profoundly influenced his
work. Exhibits also address his personal life, including his marriage to
Gemma Donati and his idealized love for Beatrice Portinari.
Medieval
Florence: The museum vividly recreates the socio-political context of
Dante’s Florence, a city riven by factional strife (Guelphs vs.
Ghibellines, later White vs. Black Guelphs) and thriving as a commercial
hub. Displays on guilds, such as the Arte di Calimala and Arte della
Lana, underscore Florence’s economic vitality, while maps and models
illustrate the city’s compact, walled layout, with landmarks like the
Cathedral (under construction in Dante’s time) and the Bargello.
Commemorative Role: The Casa di Dante reflects Florence’s efforts to
reclaim Dante, despite his exile and death in Ravenna. The 19th-century
push to honor him, culminating in the museum’s creation, aligns with
Italy’s unification and cultural nationalism. The adjacent church of
Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi, with tombs of the Portinari and Donati
families, complements the site’s narrative, though claims of Beatrice’s
burial there are speculative.
Located in Florence’s historic core, the Casa di Dante is steps from
major landmarks: the Duomo (200 meters north), Piazza della Signoria
(300 meters southeast), and the Bargello (150 meters east). Its position
in the medieval quarter, with narrow streets like Via Dante Alighieri,
preserves the atmosphere of Dante’s time.
Current Use: The Casa
di Dante operates as a museum managed by the Unione Fiorentina, a
cultural association. It hosts permanent exhibits, temporary displays,
and educational programs, including lectures and workshops on Dante’s
works. The museum also houses a library with Dante-related texts and a
bookshop. While not a residence, it serves as a pilgrimage site for
literature enthusiasts and tourists.
Visiting: The museum is open
daily (10:00–18:00 in summer, 10:00–17:00 in winter), with admission
fees around €8 (discounts for students and seniors). Tickets can be
purchased online or on-site, and guided tours are available in multiple
languages. The site is compact, requiring about 45–60 minutes to explore
fully. Accessibility is limited due to the historic building’s stairs,
though staff assist visitors with mobility challenges. The surrounding
area offers cafes and gelaterias, and the nearby Badia Fiorentina and
Orsanmichele add to the medieval ambiance.
Nearby Sites: The church
of Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi, across the street, is a must-visit for
its Alighieri and Portinari connections. The Torre della Castagna, a
surviving Guelph tower, and the Bargello, a former prison where Dante’s
exile was decreed, provide additional context. The museum’s proximity to
the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio makes it an easy stop on a walking
tour.